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Allardyce: Hodgson 'can't ignore' Carroll

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes Andy Carroll could force his way into England contention with a strong end to the season.

Published

3 March 2014

The striker's campaign has been blighted by injury, while a three-match suspension for elbowing Swansea City's Chico Flores saw him making just his first appearance in a month in the 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday.

But, with a fortnight until West Ham's next fixture, Allardyce is hopeful the former Newcastle United and Liverpool forward can return to full fitness and become part of Roy Hodgson's England plans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

"I think Andy is a fantastic alternative in so much as you can change from the plan that you've got, whether you start with him or bring him off the bench," he said.

"I'm not talking about pumping the ball up to his head. I don't put him on to just win headers but to control the ball with his chest and feet and bring other people into play.

"You saw on Saturday what he can do inside and outside the box. If he stays fit, he's got it in his own hands and if he does as well as he did last season, Roy can't ignore him."

And Allardyce revealed he was considering organising a friendly match for next weekend to help build Carroll's fitness.

"Andy has been constant in training terms but it's match fitness that we need to help him with," he added.

"If anybody needed a game next week it would be Andy but we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we can get him fit again.

"We may fit in a behind-closed-doors game for him and some of the other squad players that might not have been playing so much recently."